Wesson Joseph Dougan was born May 10, 1869, near Lowell, Wisconsin, the youngest child of Arthur and Delcyetta Dougan. Born and raised on a Dodge County farm, Mr. Dougan attended Wayland Academy and the University of Wisconsin. He was ordained into the Methodist ministry in 1892, serving churches in McFarland, Oregon, Juda and Poy-nette.

On October 1, 1898, Rev Dougan was joined in marriage with Ernice Trever. When hearing loss convinced Rev. Dougan that it was time for a career change, he decided to take up farming. The decision was fortuitous, for Preacher Dougan and for Beloit. Upon leaving the ministry in 1906, Mr. Dougan drew on his boyhood experience in resolving to become a dairyman. He found the fertile land he wanted, close to town and bought the Colley farm east of Beloit. He went into business with just two cows and a commitment to deliver rich, wholesome milk to customers’ doorsteps. The new Dougan Dairy was known from thereafter as “The Baby’s Milkman” from the slogan placed by him on his delivery wagon and on the many wagons and trucks that followed as the business grew. Dougan milk was sold in distinctive amber-colored glass bottles. As the dairy business grew, Mr. Dougan needed a bigger barn.

Captivated by the round barn concept, he built one. On the silo in the center of the barn he painted his farming credo: ”Good crops. Proper storage. Profitable livestock. A stable market. Life as well as a living.” The Dougan farm became a University of Wisconsin experimental station employing scientific breeding and production methods. The enterprising Dougan, affectionately known around town as  “Daddy Dougan,” ventured into hybrid seed corn production. The Dougan brand was widely popular with corn growers throughout the Midwest for many years.

Mr. Dougan helped to organize the Turtle Grange. He was a gifted orator, much in demand at farm meetings. He won Prairie Farmer magazine’s “Master Farmer” award and was inducted into the University of Wisconsin Hall of Fame. One of Mr. Dougan’s sons, Ronald A., took over operation of the farm until retirement in 1970.